Captain Brett Holman believes his opening goal to help Al Nasr through to the President’s Cup final was the perfect way to say goodbye to the Al Maktoum Stadium if he exits this summer.
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Holman, 31, has proven an astute signing since being snapped up on a free transfer in June 2013 on a two-year deal following his release from Aston Villa.
The former Australia midfielder helped end a 12-year trophy drought in his debut campaign with the 2013/14 GCC Club Cup, wearing the captain’s armband this term as the Arabian Gulf Cup was lifted in January.
But ahead of Wednesday’s President’s Cup decider against Al Ahli, no talks on a new deal have begun. If he is to leave this summer, then the ex-AZ Alkmaar star was in fine form during his last home match.
Holman made it 1-0 in Saturday’s semi-final against Al Shabab with a composed low finish for his seventh strike of the campaign, coming off as an extra-time substitute prior to the decisive penalty shootout after running himself into the ground.
When asked whether this was a great last stand at the Al Maktoum, he replied: “Who knows? If it is my last game here then it was, definitely.
“The future is a little bit cloudy. There is no point getting carried away now within the next three days. We will get this [President’s Cup final] over and done with, then sit down and see where I am at for next season.”
The Red Knights await in the showpiece after seeing off Al Dhafra 2-0 in the other semi-final, a club boasting eight President’s Cup wins and 10 final appearances – including the 2013, 2014 and 2015 editions.
They have rebounded in style from a miserable Arabian Gulf League title defence in recent weeks, progressing to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a 3-3 second leg draw at Al Ain last Wednesday.
“Al Dhafra or Al Ahli – it is a final,” Holman said. “It is a one off and anything can happen. The only thing you can say is Ahli have hit some cracking form, doing really well in the AFC Champions League and going through to the President’s Cup final. We’ve had some good games against them in the past. “The team that wants it more will take it home.”
The President’s Cup is considered the most prestigious event in the UAE, with the heralded trophy eluding the Blue Wave since 1989. Holman was fully aware of the local significance if his side were to triumph in Al Ain.
He said: “For me, it is different as I am not from here. But if you see how they believe in it – the locals – they really see it like an FA Cup with a ‘we are going to Wembley’ thing.
“You know it is a massive thing. With a bit of luck or if we are on the right side of the score on June 3, it will be fantastic.”
